You’ve maybe suspected it all along, but it’s now a proven fact…. Wichita is among the nation’s leading Allergy Capitals. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Wichita ranks #1 for Fall Allergies and #7 for Spring. And while we can’t change the weather there are ways that we try to help our customers reduce the effects of this.

In general, indoor air is four to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Approximately 87% of American homeowners are unaware of indoor air pollution.

There’s more in the air than you can easily see—particles, dust and smoke, all of them potential triggers for asthma and allergy attacks. Particles like dust, smoke and bacteria are often .3 microns or less. At that size, allergens can get deep into your lungs because they aren’t filtered well by your nose and throat.

An effective whole-house air cleaner that we recommend to our customers is the Trane CleanEffects™. It can reduce the presence of potential asthma and allergy attack triggers in your home, get rid of the majority of particles like dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, dust mites, mildew, lint, fungus, most tobacco smoke, cooking grease, and even bacteria.

As published in BioMed Central Journal, an independent publishing house committed to providing access to peer-reviewed biomedical research, Trane CleanEffects™ has been shown to reduce triggers for allergies and asthma. It removes up to 99.98% and particles and allergens from the filtered air. Installing Trane CleanEffects™ can be an important part of your overall allergy and asthma management plan.

Here are allergy experts’ tips for managing allergies and asthma in the home:

• Control dust mites — Use anti-dust mite covers and wash sheets in hot water at least once a week; 130 degrees is recommended.

• Eliminate mold sources – Fix leaky pipes and keep bathroom grout clean.

• Stay smoke-free — Avoid non-ventilated, smoky rooms and second-hand smoke.

• Avoid pet dander — Keep pets off the furniture, out of the bedroom, and if necessary, consider taking the pet out of the home.

• Close doors and windows — Keep windows and doors shut to keep outdoor pollens, molds and irritants outside.

• Install a whole-house air cleaner — An air cleaning system, such as Trane CleanEffects™ removes airborne particles and allergens too tiny for your nose and mouth to filter naturally. In addition to taking steps to control allergens in the home, you should always see an allergist to determine the cause of your symptoms. An allergy specialist can run a series of simple blood or skin tests to determine if your asthma symptoms are allergy-related.

Have you ever felt that no matter how often you dust the dust seems to reappear the next day? You’re not alone. The average six-room house collects 40 pounds of dust each year. New studies show that the installation of Trane CleanEffects™ reduces dust accumulation in your home by more than 50%.

According to a study by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, indoor air contaminants are responsible for or aggravate half of all illnesses.

Poor indoor air quality negatively affects more than 15 million Americans who have asthma and the 28 million who suffer from hay fever and other allergies.

It is recommended we drink approximately two quarts of clean water each day. By comparison, we inhale approximately 15,000 quarts of air each day.

More than 15 million Americans are estimated to have asthma, including one in 13 school-age children.

Because they breathe faster than adults, children inhale 50% more air per pound of body weight than adults and are especially sensitive to air quality problems..

For more information about how your heating & cooling system can help with allergy management, give us a call and we’ll be happy to see what we can do to help!

Your comfort and safety is our Top Priority!

 – Char